A Little Book for New Historians: Why and How to Study History

Little Books

by Robert Tracy McKenzie

Many people think of history as merely "the past"—or at most, information about the past. But the real work of a historian is to listen to the voices of those who have gone before and humbly remember the flesh and blood on the other side of the evidence. What is their story? How does it become part of our own?

In A Little Book for New Historians veteran historian Robert Tracy McKenzie offers a concise, clear, and beautifully written introduction to the study of history. In addition to making a case for the discipline in our pragmatic, "present-tense" culture, McKenzie lays out necessary skills, methods, and attitudes for historians in training. Loaded with concrete examples and insightful principles, this primer shows how the study of history, faithfully pursued, can shape your heart as well as your mind.

Genres: History, School, Nonfiction, Theology, Philosophy, Church History

120 pages, Paperback

Published March 12, 2019

About the author

Robert Tracy McKenzie (PhD, Vanderbilt University) is Arthur F. Holmes Chair of Faith and Learning and professor and chair of the department of history at Wheaton College. He is the author of books including One South or Many?, Lincolnites and Rebels, and The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book. "To say we are historical beings is also to acknowledge the continued presence of the past in our lives.". (p.39) "The power of the past lives on. Its influence is ever with us, ever a part of us, shaping who we are, what we notice, how we see." (p.40)

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful.

[J. Alfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that begins with a quote from The Princess Bride and gets better from there. Very definitely worthwhile.
Some highlights:
History isn't discrete facts, it's memory.
History as a discipline is a conversation with the dead for the benefit of the living.
The serious study of history is our best way of instilling humility and, maybe, changing the direction of our present.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Also short, so easy to pick up.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most recent contribution to the IVP Little Book series is “A Little Book For New Historians” by Robert Tracy McKenzie. This concise 120 page volume offers a brief but compelling introduction to “Why” and “How” when it comes to studying history. The book is organized into two parts, “Why Study History” and “How to Study History Faithfully.”

Throughout the book are highlighted quotes both by McKenzie and by other various sources that McKenzie draws from. This serves to aid in comprehension and recognition of important points the author makes

The book stresses the importance of things like historical consciousness, which is explained well in chapter 4 and brought up multiple times throughout the little book. As McKenzie states “Historical consciousness isn’t information we possess or a skill that we practice. It’s a mindset that changes how we see both ourselves and the world.” A few pages later he expands this to say, “As it matures, historical consciousness becomes more than a mindset. It becomes a mindset that engages the heart—mocking our pride, exposing our pretensions, and teaching us humility.”

One thing I noticed is how well the author’s ideas or points flow together. He carries ideas throughout the book such as an image of a cup and a waterfall and a phrase I’ll be remembering for a while “No context, no meaning.” The irony of lack of context of that quote is not lost on me.

Aside from the quotes already highlighted, I’ve found it to be a rather quotable book. Among my favourites is the closing line of part one “When we approach the study of the past with humility and awe, recognizing the past as a sphere that God has ordained and prompted by biblical dictates and principles, the study of history can become both an act of obedience and an expression of worship.” This snippet sounds nice on its own but it is not merely a random thought, but the conclusion of the chapter.

While “A Little Book for New Historians” is from a Christian publisher and in the book you’ll find scriptures and the author being open regarding his personal faith, the book could be enjoyed and useful to any new historian, regardless of religion.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.

[Duncan Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a handful of books like this now: short introductions to the study of history intended for beginning students (usually undergraduates). This one is the best I've read so far. It's well-written, even funny sometimes. I'm assigning 4 stars here because I try to reserve 5 stars for books that transform my understanding of the world in major ways. If I could rate this 4.5 here, perhaps I would.

The examples and anecdotes are interesting and apt. Did you know that when Marco Polo first saw a rhinoceros, he believed that he had found a real (but ugly) unicorn? As McKenzie explains, the way Marco Polo got to this conclusion is similar to way we err when we allow presentism to distort our understanding of the past. As we encounter the unfamiliar in the past, we wrack our brains for the first analogy that seems to fit, and then we attach that analogy to the unfamiliar discovery as a label... often without considering whether the connection is valid.

There are not many reviews of this book on here yet. I noticed that several complain about the way this book approaches the issue of "providentialism" in the study of history. Since this book is aimed at a Christian audience, that's an important topic. I think McKenzie is right that we should avoid providential history, but I suspect that the way he presents this argument here would not be compelling to readers who tended to favor that approach. He begins that argument by pointing out that providentialist history violates scholarly conventions, and then presents a theological argument why providentialism should be avoided. I think he should have started with the theological argument, since that would be more meaningful to people who maybe are uncertain about this than simply appealing to academic convention (which usually isn't a concern for providentialists).

[Chandler Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic work on how to think and read like a historian. McKenzie appeals to historical study as a conversation about the past (secondary sources) and a conversation with the past (primary sources). He also helpfully distinguishes between the past and history. History is our memory and incomplete account of the past. The two are not identical. The author also calls for epistemic humility in our study of the past since it is largely an interpretive rather than an object investigation. In the reading of primary sources and our study of the historical, we must always make interpretations about causality and meaning that will be conjectural in nature. There is also an appendix at the end that helpfully billet points the key insights of the book. Here are some standouts:

“focus on interpretation first, facts second—the facts mean nothing apart from the author’s larger interpretation.”

“actively love the human beings reflected in the sources—notice them, listen carefully to them, respect their perspective, and be open to learning from them.”

“combat presentism by avoiding snap judgments and ‘cultivating puzzlement.’”

“be mindful that the evidence won’t speak for itself—you must contribute your own interpretation of the evidence, which makes writing an effective history paper an act of creating as much as discovering.”

“emphasize moral reflection (which is directed inward) above moral judgment (which is directed outward).”

“focus on the foreign in the past as much as the familiar—it’s the strangeness of the past that carries the greatest potential to challenge and change us.”
(Yes to this 1,000x! The strangeness of the past is part of the reason why I’m so interested in patristic studies).

This is a book that will ultimately challenge aspiring historians, especially Christian historians, about the possibilities and limits of historical study.

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written from an accessibility standpoint. Does a good job of baptizing into the current mileu of the discipline of academic historian from a Christian perspective. I'll be forward, the author writes off history from a providential standpoint. I mean, what else beside moral composure and fairness does a Christian bring to the discipline of studying history unless you can see God's hand upon the events of the past? I read a good amount of history books written by respected Evangelical historians. You know what's lacking? A complete sense that God was at work. Why? Because it's wanted by those authors to be read and appreciated outside the Christian world. Those works don't have the gumption to say "this was God." I'm afraid this is a late development in the study of history. None of the ancients had this problem of being very open about their biases and interpretations... All the way through the 19th century this was a very common thing to have the historian as a narriator with no attempt to play the cardless player. Well if you have an eye to God, you have cards and even if they're wrong, you ought to play them. Sorry that that was the source of the stars being docked off this work but I seem to remember the theme of "providence" haunting the critical turning points in David McCullough's 1776 without ruffling too many feathers. Too bad he did that or else he might have succeeded with that work.

[Stephen Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always McKenzie writes a highly engaging and very helpful book on the purpose and posture we are to have when studying Church history. His continual emphasis is on humility in being a historian is much needed as well as his directive towards wisdom. The biggest surprise was that he strongly encouraged away from
Providential interpretation, seeking to understand who God works in history. Should it be considered a surprise, change, or coincidence that I received a copy of Vern Postgres’s new book on history that affirms providential history? There I turn next to see how it compares to McKenzie.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the importance and process of studying history. I really appreciated his critique of studying history only to not repeat the mistakes of the past. Also, it was a good reminder of the importance of studying history with a desire to better understand our own ways of thinking and errors we many times do not notice. Highly recommend to everyone, not just those interested in history.

[Hayden]

An excellent introduction for those deciding to seriously study history (and just for anyone, really,). It reminded me a bit of my historiography class in college, and I wish I'd read this book then.

[Caroline Lauber · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The study of history, faithfully pursed, should alter your heart as well as your mind.” This book reignited my love of history and affirmed my pursuit of the study of history. Applying to Ph.D. History programs asap.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don’t want to be challenged in your perceived understanding of why we study history and how to study it, do not read this book.
But…I think everyone ought to read this book. And rethink how we are asking our kids to engage in their learning of history!

[Harmony Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute survey book w/ christian perspective on how to history

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking. Good questions to consider as one seeks to know history.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book was a surprising pleasure to read. The rationale for the study of history and the guidelines given are really interesting, thought provoking, and informative. Worth your time.

[Hamish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minus 1 star for so much discussion of religion. At times, the book felt like a theological sermon.

[Elisabeth Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and worthy read. “We listen to those who have gone before us without rolling our eyes, leaving open the possibility that something they have to say might be something we need to hear.”

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful, simple, and delightful.

[Matthew Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect primer for thinking honestly and responsibly about one’s own past, context, and world. Wonderful. I will be returning to this often for inspiration.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this. I bought it thinking about homeschooling, but turns out, it blessed me and got me pondering a lot personally.

[Amber Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read on how and why to study history.

[Guilherme Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stellar work. So accessible. So many highlights. Highly recommend for everyone as everyone is a historian as everyone is someone "in time", and everyone's identity is tied to the past.

[Gradon Schaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice introduction to historical studies; I appreciated that the second part of the book provided some guidance in regards to "how" one does history. It is definitely written for college freshmen, but I think high school juniors and seniors could benefit from it as well.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of incredibly wise words concerning the humble, awe-inspired, and academically responsible treatment of history. A must-read for any historian, whether lay or academic.